Choose Life!

Today, I wasn’t able to honor a friend’s invite to a suicide prevention forum but even from where I sit, I know that this is a very important subject matter, especially in recent times.

Where I come from, commiting suicide is considered a taboo. It’s a subject no one wants to discuss publicly, neither is it important to the people to establish the real reasons why someone would choose to take away their lives. Truth is, cases of suicide have been on the rise lately.

As a Christian and a Roman Catholic for that matter, I believe that taking away your life is a sin. I also know that life can sometimes be very hard and not all of us are wired with the strength and grace to withstand these pressures. A very close person to me once confessed that they had unsuccessfully attempted suicide twice. I felt sad and guilty about it and that’s because I never thought they had gotten to that point. I would see this person occasionally and they looked just fine, so the suicidal confession was a shock to me.

Depression is a real disease that’s killing many people. Not many are bold enough to open up and seek help. The other fact is that depressed people are not the gloomy ones, the ones who wear goth makeup and walk around with sad demeanors. Some of those happy and smiley people are very depressed. Publicly they look just fine, but in private, they are at war with demons the size of the titanic. They don’t speak about it because they feel ashamed of themselves, they fear the judgement and condemnation.

As a friend or family member, when someone reaches out to you regarding depression or that they are having suicidal thoughts , do not ignore, judge or laugh at them. They could actually be at the end of their rope and now hanging on by a thread. Be supportive, counsel, help them seek professional help.

And for those crying for help so loudly on the inside but cannot speak up, know this, you are not alone. That situation you think you can’t overcome, you actually can and will. Look back at every other time you thought you’d never get back up. You are still here. Though not as strong as you want to be, but you are still standing. Do not choose suicide. Choose life!

Talk to Befrienders Kenya on +254722178177 and get the help you need.